“Atmah” Program to Increase Employment Opportunities for People of Determination in Abu Dhabi

 

 

Abu Dhabi, Tuesday 14 April 2020:   The GCC’s first Social Impact Bond will be piloted in Abu Dhabi as part of an agreement signed between the Department of Community Development, the Authority of Social Contribution - Ma’an, Aldar, Aldar Education and Higher Organization for People of Determination to support the employment of people of determination. 

 

The five partners will use the mechanism of a Social Impact Bond to launch a new vocational pilot training program designed to equip people of determination in Abu Dhabi with employability skills and help them secure permanent employment.

The 15-month program, which will be delivered virtually in its initial phase, launches in May and will see up to 25 selected students learn life and vocational skills before moving into work placements and eventually permanent employment.

 

Social Impact Bonds are an internationally established and successful way to finance the delivery of public services, first introduced in the UK. They involve the government, a social service provider and a social investor - using multi-party partnerships to bring together the right organizations to solve social challenges.

The contract operates on a pay-for-success basis, whereby social service providers will have the freedom to innovate and come up with a solution that delivers the social outcome. Private investors, such as high net worth Individuals or investment funds, will then invest in the Social Impact Bond and the government will pay back the investor - with interest - but only if the outcomes are achieved.

 

Through the “ATMAH” program, Department of Community Development - Abu Dhabi (DCD) is the commissioner of the service (the government), supporting one of its key priorities to increase employment opportunities for people of determination. The Authority for Social Contribution - Ma’an facilitates and arranges the contract, acting as primary liaison for all parties and setting measurable social outcomes to be achieved. 

 

Aldar Education is the social service provider, developing the curriculum and employing teachers to deliver the program. Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination will adapt a supervisory role and will support the program through the provision of comprehensive evaluation services, furthermore, in consideration of the organization’s extensive experience, the organization will assign a number of experienced and specialized employees, trainers and experts to ensure sharing of knowledge and expertise in working with people of determination and their families in the field of rehabilitation and vocational training. Aldar Properties is the social investor, committing AED 2 million of capital to kick-start the project which will be repaid by DCD if the social outcomes are achieved. 

By working together, all five partners will pilot Social Impact Bonds and trial this innovative new funding mechanism to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of social services. This will be the first Social Impact Bond anywhere in the world that is focused on people of determination.

 

The aim is that, through the program, students will benefit from gaining life skills, vocational training, work placement and a permanent job.  Their families will gain a better quality of life as their child becomes increasingly independent and employers in Abu Dhabi will benefit from a more diverse workforce. In addition, it gives teachers the opportunity to improve their skills and confidence with people of determination as well as testing a new curriculum.

 

The pilot will be assessed at the end of the 15-month program to determine its success and then next steps will be agreed.

 

On this occasion, H.E. Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of Department of Community Development, stated that this strategic step was directed by the wise leadership, which is keen on empowering people of determination. He stressed his pride in implementing the first social impact contracts of this kind in the Gulf region to further the UAE’s pioneering role in empowering and supporting people of determination, integrating them in their communities, and strengthening their skills to create influential and productive individuals who contribute to the UAE’s achievements in all fields and forums.

 

H.E. added that “Atmah” Program, which aims to provide people of determination with professional training and job opportunities, is an ambitious step towards ensuring the stability of society of which they are an integral part, stating that the department aims to provide high-quality integrated services on the level of public, private and third sector, as well as achieve its vision of an integrated and empowering society, which will realize its key mission: creating the foundation of a tolerant society that includes all segments.

 

The Chairman stressed the importance of knowing how to deal with people of determination and empowering them to be influential and productive by supporting and encouraging them to work on their projects and achieve their dreams and ambitions, in addition to working with them side by side to enable them to be independent and confident of their skilled and abilities.

 

H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Aldar, said: “Social impact has never been so entrenched in corporate values and priorities as much as it is today. Businesses are increasingly expected to contribute to addressing social challenges as part of their commitment to creating value for stakeholders. At Aldar, we embrace this sense of purpose in everything we do. As a responsible organisation, we are guided by the vision of our wise leadership that continues to prioritise the interest of its people above everything else. Our partnership with the Authority of Social Contribution - Ma’an to bring the first ever social impact bond focused on people of determination is a true testament to this. Now more than ever before is a time for society, leaders and businesses to come together, collaborate and support one another. We truly hope that this partnership will serve as a collaboration model for others to build on and support both in the region and globally.” 

 

Her Excellency Salama Al Ameemi, Director General of Ma’an, said: “It is a great privilege to announce that our first Social Impact Bond will be piloted to focus on training a group of people of determination and providing them with job opportunities  - a hugely important social priority. I want to thank the Department of Community Development, Aldar Properties, Aldar Education and Higher Organization for People of Determination for their support in making this project possible.

 

“Social Impact Bonds focuses on specific and measurable outcomes for the people of Abu Dhabi.

“We are proud to be leading the way in the region for introducing this internationally-recognised method of financing and delivering solutions for social challenges. It is part of our wider mission to encourage the third sector to flourish in Abu Dhabi and deliver solutions to social challenges in partnership with government, the private sector and civil society.”

 

Social Impact Bonds are now used by more than 30 countries worldwide and help to develop an outcome-oriented approach to social challenges, encouraging innovation and growth within the third sector.

Social service providers have the freedom to innovate and come up with a solution that delivers the social outcome. Private investors, such as High Net Worth Individuals or investment funds, will then invest in the Social Impact Bond (giving the service provider the upfront capital to deliver the social program) and the government will pay back the investor - with interest - but only if the outcomes are achieved.

 

It allows investors to meet the increasing demand for using financing to generate social good as well as supporting CSR efforts in a way that avoids dependence and grows capital which can be recycled and reinvested in other social good projects.

It also ensures that governments only pay for programs that work and make a measurable social impact.

 

Speaking In November when Ma’an announced it would launch the first Social Impact Bond in Abu Dhabi and the GCC, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “Just as venture capital responded to the financing needs of the dot-com revolution a generation ago, social impact investment can help us reach the next stage of innovative social reform and the new UAE social impact bond represents an exciting and innovative development that will help transform social provision.”